Hempstead proposes budget with flat tax levy, $50M drawn from reserves

Hempstead proposes budget with flat tax levy, $50M drawn from reserves

Hempstead has released its 2026 budget proposal, which would essentially keep tax levies flat and use up to $50 million from the town’s reserves, according to budget documents. Supervisor John Ferretti’s budget proposal decreases the general fund tax levy by 18%, or about $5 million. The special district tax levy, which the town does not control, is proposed to increase by about 5%, or roughly $5 million. The two changes together result in an es…